Letters To Buhari: Ayobami Akanji

My Dear President Buhari,

A leader is one who knows the way, and shows the way – John Maxwell

On the 6^th September 2015, Nigerians witnessed a detailed streamline of activities the country achieved within the period of your stewardship. I write you as a patriotic citizen who believes in the enthronement of the rule of law, the holistic fight against a deep scourge which has been eating do deep into our national fabric. We are also witnessing how the Nigerian Army are steadily degrading the Boko Haram (BH) elements.

It is very evident that you campaigned on the Change mantra which has a cardinal objective of re positioning Nigeria to take her rightful spot in the comity of nations. Thanks to the reposed confidence Nigerians had in you, which has been manifesting aptly captured by President Obama over the course of your official visit to the United States in the month of July. President Obama stated Nigeria is obviously one of the most important countries in the world and one of the most important countries in Africa.

It’s important to state that you have brought credibility and meaningful leadership to safeguard the interest of all Nigerians, which is attracting a widespread of stakeholders aligning with this amiable position.

However, I will use this medium to highlight certain milestones you have achieved and in the same vein I shall also enumerate certain policies I wish you will achieve before the end of your term in 2019. With that in mind the following activities has been achieved in your first 100 days in office:

• The relocation of the Military Command and control center to Maiduguri
• Enforcement of fuel price at N87 nation-wide
• Initiated a re-launch of the National carrier
• Maritime safety has been ensured and stabilized in the last 100 days
• Nigeria generated power at highest level ever (4,029.831 MW) which is still far from enough but will improve.
• The President has made regional engagement efforts and we are hopeful that the rapid operational direction will be impactful.
• The Federal Government has given approval for the cleanup of the Ogoni land.
• The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) announced a rise in external reserves from $29.1 billion to $31.89 billion.
• The TREASURY SINGLE ACCOUNT (TSA) implemented judiciously by this administration is a very profound way to curb chronic corruption and save resources for capital projects.
• The restructuring in Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) has drastically reduced the recurrent expenditure of the corporation.
• Reduction of Presidential Entourage on local and international engagements has saved the Nation billion of naira.
• Appointment of service chiefs on merit is the first in Nigeria promoting harmony and spirit de corps.
• Approves bailout package for 27 states ( Including N338 billion) fund.
• Releases N5 billion promptly government contribution for the Boko Haram Victims Support to fasten succor for victims who have been in hardship.
• Embark on a shuttle diplomacy to the United States of America that attracted a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) worth N2.7 trillion.

Mr. President, the above mentioned covered various sectors that your exceptional leadership has touched within the last 100 days, suffice to add that other aspects where milestone achieved were not listed. As you have given a considerate attention to the fight of insecurity, corruption. I will want you to give a proper attention into job creation, the falling standards of educational sector shuld be nipped in the bud, our healthcare needs to be revamped urgently.

It was very commending to see the trio of the Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundation pledged $5 million for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption and Criminal Justice Reform Fund to strengthen the judiciary in the fight against corruption.

Mr. President, what follows next are candid bullet points that I hope you will be able to achieve by the end of your term in 2019.

SECURITY: The detractors keep making allusion of no progress on the counterinsurgency fight, but majority of Nigerians are happy with the achievements in liberating their towns. Thus I will be glad should a marshal plan be developed for the region which shall entail a massive infrastructure consideration, I will also align myself with the President orders that these elements be degraded by the year end. We all are witness to the retaking of erstwhile stronghold and cutting various supply routes of the sinking insurgency. Our gallant troops are retaking back Nigerian territories, hoisting our National flag.

I will also add that the oil bunker and kidnapping which are occurring in certain flash points should also be brought to a zero level, to restore investors confidence in bringing investment which will augur well for the economy.

JOB CREATION:

We are having an army of unemployed youth, so while I expect that you will enact and stimulate the economy by diversifying the economy by making agriculture more attractive to the youth, the textile industry, manufacturing sector, mining just to mention a few of the sectors that once revived will drastically reposition the Nigerian economy.

I also hope you strengthen the government institutions entrusted with providing incentives for Small and Medium Enterprises to thrive in the entrepreneur world by also creating jobs.

EDUCATION REFORM:

The Nigerian educational sector is bereft of a constant policy which leads to the abysmal result been recorded, in-view of the fact that we need a sophisticated populace the youth who constitute a huge chunk as the vanguard the educational sector within your term needs urgent intervention. The increase in education tax by the Tertiary Educational Fund (TETFUND) arguer well and the strict compliance of the UNESCO’S budgetary allocation to the educational sector, which is the cradle of any given society. Funds should be earmarked for research and grants which will stimulate the creativity of both academicians and students alike.

FOREIGN POLICY:

The coordination of the Multi National Task Force is changing the tide against the counter-terrorism and Nigeria is collaborating with the Western Countries who are willing to deploy their military will in support of the war. Mr. President Nigeria has to lead Africa by clinching the United Nations permanent security council given our leadership quality in restoring democracy in various African countries, just recently you dispatched Former President Olusegun Obasanjo to restore peace and the rule of law in the country, I also hope you will use your chairmanship as the African Union Security Council to bring lasting peace to Burundi.

Mr. President, I and many Nigerians are confident that you can secure the above mentioned by engaging the right strategies and having like minds as cabinet members who shall drive this #Change Mantra. The road ahead will be difficult, but we are eager to see you achieve these within your tenure. We are confident you wont disappoint us.

Accept my highest regards

Sincerely,

Ayobami Ismail Akanji